Shelf bracket and method of making same

Abstract

A shelf bracket having a ledge and a plurality of side members, the shelf bracket being formed from a blank. The blank has a plurality of side portions, which can be bent downwardly to create the side members. The blank also has a ledge portion which forms the ledge of the shelf bracket. The side portions and the ledge portion of the blank are separated by a plurality of bend lines, to facilitate bending for the formation of the shelf bracket. The blank desirably has a lip portion which can be bent upwardly to form a lip of the shelf bracket. The blank can also have a plurality of stiffener portions which can be bent to create stiffeners in the shelf bracket, and one or more ribs in the side portions to provide strength to the shelf bracket.

1. A blank constructed from a sheet of material and formable into a shelf bracket, the blank comprising:
 a flat ledge portion having a first end, a second end, a first side, and a second side; 
 a first side member extending from the first side of the ledge portion and having a first support member connecting portion extending beyond the first end of the ledge portion; 
 a second side member extending from the second side of the ledge portion and having a second support member connecting portion extending beyond the first end of the ledge portion; 
 a first bend line positioned between the ledge portion and the first side member and a second bend line positioned between the ledge portion and the second side member, the first bend line and second bend line comprising one or more cutouts thereby forming weakened areas in the bend lines such that the first side member and second side member are manually bendable relative to the ledge portion; 
 a first stiffener portion extending from the first side member and a second stiffener portion extending from the second side member; and 
 a first stiffener bend line comprising a cutout and positioned between the first side member and the first stiffener portion and a second stiffener bend line comprising a cutout and positioned between the second side member and the second stiffener portion; and 
 wherein the first stiffener bend line being at an acute angle with the first bend line and the second stiffener bend line being at an acute angle with the second bend line; and 
 wherein each stiffener portion has a connecting means; and 
 wherein the blank is formable into a shelf bracket by manually bending the first side member along the first bend line and manually bending the second side member along the second bend line such that each first and second side member is in perpendicular orientation to the ledge portion, and wherein when the blank is formed into the shelf bracket, the first support member connecting portion of the first side member and the second support member connecting portion of the second side member together form a cavity sized and adapted to receive and be attached to a support member having a planar surface and wherein when the shelf bracket is attached to the support member via the first and second support member connecting portions, the ledge portion extends from the planar surface of the support member substantially at a 90 degree angle and the first bend line and second bend line, each of which has the one or more cutouts therein, and each extends from the planar surface of the support member substantially at a 90 degree angle; and 
 wherein the connecting means of each stiffener portion is connectable to the planar surface of the support member for enhancing the strength of the first side member and second side member of the shelf bracket. 
 
   
   
     2. The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a lip portion extending from the second end of the ledge portion; and 
 a bend line positioned between the second end of the ledge portion and the lip portion, and the bend line of the lip portion comprising a cutout; and 
 wherein a lip is formable in the shelf bracket by manually bending the lip portion of the blank upwardly from the ledge portion of the blank. 
 
   
   
     3. The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the connecting means include at least one tooth for engaging the support member. 
   
   
     4. The blank of  claim 1 , wherein each first side member and second side member has a plurality of openings for receiving securing means for attaching the shelf bracket to the support member. 
   
   
     5. The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the ledge portion of the blank has a plurality of openings, such that a load can be secured to the ledge portion of the shelf bracket. 
   
   
     6. The blank of  claim 1 , wherein the cutouts of the bend lines comprise slots. 
   
   
     7. The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rib on each of the first side member and the second side member. 
   
   
     8. The blank of  claim 1 , further comprising at least one rib positioned in the ledge portion.